08 Mar In the Ribbons Darragh Kenny and Stephen Moore in Florida
KENNY AND MOORE DELIVER TWO SECONDS FOR IRELAND IN FLORIDA
OFFALY-born rider Darragh Kenny produced a second place at the five-star show in Wellington, Florida last night (Friday), missing out on the top prize by just three quarters of a second.
The evening’s feature speed competition saw the 27 year-old US-based rider claim one of 13 clear rounds in the competition aboard the Spruce Meadows-owned 11 year-old chestnut gelding Quiz. However, though the same horse had delivered victory for Kenny at Wellington just last month, this time he was edged narrowly out of the top spot by in-form American rider Andrew Ramsay on the Dutch-bred Welfare.
Meanwhile, in the Under 25 Grand Prix Semi-Final at Wellington’s Palm Beach Equestrian Centre, Ireland’s 22 year-old Stephen Moore went head-to-head with Germany’s Laurenz Buhl in a tie-breaking jump-off. The two were the only competitors from a starting field of 34 to clear the challenging track set by Irish course designer Alan Wade.
First to go, Buhl and River Dance Semilly completed the short course in a fast time of 45.67 seconds, but dropped a rail at the final fence that left the win in the balance. Moore tried for a clear round, but also had a rail on the course with Fantasy. His time was slower at 45.78 seconds, to put the pair in second place.
Colin McClelland
Press Officer
HORSE SPORT IRELAND